Cow: It was sort of similar, I guess. I was at a picnic and we were eating…

Pig: What? What were you eating?

Cow: Bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches. And you weren't there either.

Pig: Oh my!

Duck: Hey you two! Did you get your invitation to the farmer's picnic yet?

Pig: No!

Cow: Me neither!

Duck: It's tomorrow and it looks like we're having bacon cheeseburgers!

Pig: Auuuggghhhh!

Cow: Run for your life!

We sure do feel sorry for Biff and Patty. Hearing their conversation got us to WONDERing. Do animals really dream?

If you've ever watched a dog sleeping, you probably thought to yourself that dogs must dream. A dog deep asleep will twitch and moan and “run" in its sleep, as if it was dreaming of running through a bone-filled field on a warm summer day. But can animals really dream like humans do?

As a matter of fact, scientists would agree with just about any dog lover you might ask. Dogs — and other animals — do indeed appear to dream much like humans do. But how do scientists know? Did they ask the animals in a series of interviews?

Of course not! Animals can't tell us about their dreams. We wish they could talk like they sometimes do in movies — or the Wonderopolis pasture — but scientists have to be more clever to learn what's going on inside animals' minds.

Researchers from Cambridge University used studies conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to conclude that animals do dream. In fact, they concluded that animals can have very complex dreams that include memories or replays of events that happened while they were awake.

The researchers studied rats that had been trained to run on a track. They mapped and measured brain activity with electrodes while the rats were awake and running.

They then did the same thing while the rats slept. They learned that rats experience rapid eye movement (REM) sleep like humans do. During REM sleep is when humans have most of their dreams. Scientists observed similar behavior in the rats they studied.

After comparing the data from when the rats were awake with the data from when they were asleep, they concluded that the data supported the view that the rats had replayed long series of waking events while they were asleep. In other words, they dreamed that they were running on the track!

Did you get it?

Wonder What's Next?

Try It Out

Wasn't today's Wonder of the Day just dreamy? And furry! Keep the learning going by finding a few friends or family members to help you explore one or more of the following activities:

What do you dream about? Before launching into an exploration of the animal world, think about your latest dreams. Can you remember them? Keep a dream diary for a week. Put a notebook and a pen next to your bed. Every time you wake up, grab your pen and paper and quickly record everything you can remember — if anything! — about the dreams you had. After a week, share your dreams with your friends and family members. Ask them about their dreams. Do you dream about any of the same things?

Do dogs dream about bones? Do cats dream about milk? Or cheese? Maybe monkeys dream about bananas? What do you think? If you were an animal, what would you dream about? Give it some thought, and then create a short story or a drawing that shows the world what kind of animal you are and what you dream about. You can be as wild and creative as you want to be. Perhaps you're a badger that dreams about snowboarding! Or you could be a polar bear that dreams about finding a solution to the problem of the melting polar ice cap. Have fun dreaming about being an animal that dreams big dreams!

Up for a challenge? Do some research on an animal just like a real scientist would. What does that involve? A lot of observation and recording! Find an animal. It can be a pet of yours or a friend or family member's pet. Or it could even be an animal in your neighborhood. After you choose an animal, wait for it to go to sleep. It may take a while for you to catch it napping. Just be patient and give it some time. Once you see your chosen animal sleeping, watch it carefully. What does it do? Record all the things you observe the animal doing while it's sleeping. Do its eyes twitch? Does its tail (if it has one) wag? Does its paws move? Based upon your detailed observations of your chosen animal, what can you conclude about what happened while it was asleep? Did it dream? State your conclusion and what observations support your conclusion in a brief paragraph. Share your findings with friends and family members. Do they agree with you? Why or why not?

Wonderopolis

Feb 24, 2016

Thanks for sharing your suggestion, Wonder Friend! The Media Gallery is a GREAT way to keep WONDERing! We encourage you to explore other videos and resources about this topic! Always keep WONDERing! :)

Mackenzie

Feb 16, 2016

I like learning about this because I always see and or watch my dog sleep and think in my head if my dog dreams and goals if she does what was her dream about. I would like to know if animals can see colors in their dream?

SGR

Wonderopolis

Nov 14, 2014

We're sorry it was confusing to you, SGR. Sometimes it helps to re-read the Wonder Text in case you missed something important the first time. Is there something we could clarify for you? Thanks for WONDERing with us! :)

Wonderopolis

Shaniya & Kortni from Mrs....

Aug 29, 2014

We learned that animals do dream. We also learned that REM stands for rapid eye movement. Both, human and animals do REM. Scientist and dog lovers both agree dogs do dream. That is why your dogs might move around in their sleep. We wonder do all animals dream or just certain animals?

Wonderopolis

Aug 29, 2014

Great job WONDERing, Shaniya and Kortni! It's difficult to know if all animals dream, but scientists are working to figure this out! Perhaps when you grow up, you can research animal sleep and find the answer! :)

Wonderopolis

Jan 10, 2014

Hi Anna! We believe that all animals can dream. We love your question, what are they dreaming about? Do you have any ideas about what they could possibly be dreaming about? Thanks for WONDERing with us today! :-)

hailey

Wonderopolis

Jan 10, 2014

Hi Hailey! I bet your dog Snickers does dream. Have you ever watched him sleep? Does he move around a lot while he is sleeping? We're not sure how the scientist got the rats to run on the track, but that is a great question! Thanks for WONDERing with us! :-)

Brett

Wonderopolis

Jan 10, 2014

We're happy that you enjoyed the video, Brett! What did you learn by watching it? We also liked the Wonder about futuristic cars. What will your future car look like? Thanks for WONDERing with us, Brett! :-)

Wonderopolis

Olivia

Jan 9, 2014

I have a dog and I have never seen her dream before. Has that happened to anybody else, that they never saw their dog dream before? So, when I saw this question it made me wonder, does my dog dream when I am asleep?

mason

Jan 9, 2014

I didn't know that in a college they study rats to see if they would dream, but they would also put electrodes on them. Then the information would go on their computer to see what they're dreaming about!

Wonderopolis

Emily/MC

Jan 6, 2014

I really enjoyed this wonder. In the video, I could clearly tell that the dog was dreaming about running on a track because of the dog's arms and legs movement. I think it would be interesting if an animal dreamed about being a human and what it is like. I thought it was hilarious that Biff and Patty had a dream they went to a picnic and were going to eat each other.

Wonderopolis

Dec 10, 2013

Hi Ms. Tesa's Class! Thanks for WONDERing with us! We think all animals may dream! We WONDER if it's correlated to an animal's brain size! Animals can definitely snore in their sleep! Have you ever had a dog snore before? We think you can have multiple dreams, but that you usually happens when you wake up in between dreams! Keep WONDERing! :)

Wonderopolis

Room 32

Dec 10, 2013

Evan G. said animals can dream about anything. Evan H. said scientists stick things to the animals to learn if they dream. Summer said that some animals snore when they sleep. Mr. Flinn said his whole family snorts in their sleep. J.T. said animals can dream about eating sandwiches and bacon.

destiny

Wonderopolis

Dec 11, 2013

Hi Destiny! Thanks so much for WONDERing with us! That's so fun that you have a German Shepherd! It's great to have a rescue dog! Do you ever see her dreaming while she sleeps. Speaking of rescue dogs, check out Wonder #1089 how pets find homes! https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-do-pets-find-homes/ Keep WONDERing! :)

Wonderopolis

Janiya ms liles class

Dec 10, 2013

THOUGHT: I knew dogs moved when they sleep, but I didn't know they were having dreams.
CONNECTION: I spend a night over at my friend's house, and we woke up and his dog was sleeping and walking, but his eyes were closed so we said he was sleep walking.
PREDICTION: The future or the 1800 hundreds.

Wonderopolis

jenna Mrs. Liles class

Dec 10, 2013

THOUGHT: I have a dog. One night he was growling and barking in his sleep.
CONNECTION: There was this one dog on TV and he was running on full speed, and then he woke up and ran into the wall.
PREDICTION: I predict that tomorrow's wonder will be about how history became.
EXAMPLE: That bumblebee is moving rapidly.
WWOTD: Rapidly means " moving, occurring or acting with great speed".

Wonderopolis

Dec 10, 2013

Hi Jenna! Thanks for WONDERing with us! That's so neat that you've seen a dog actually dreaming! Speaking of dogs running, have you ever WONDERed about a dog sled? Check out Wonder #81! https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-is-a-dog-sled/ Keep WONDERing! :)

stephanie

Wonderopolis

Dec 10, 2013

Hi Stephanie! Thanks for WONDERing with us! Dogs dream just like humans do! When we get to a certain REM cycle in our sleep, we can dream more easily! Often dogs are running and walking in their dreams which causes their bodies to react and act like that! We've had so much fun WONDERing with you, Stephanie! :)

Erick-CLiles

Dec 10, 2013

THOUGHT:I thought that both the passage and the video were funny.
CONNECTION:I connected because I used to have a puppy and she used to sleepwalk
WWOTD:rapid-moving,occurring,or acting with great speed
PREDICTION:I predict that the next wonder will be about history, really weird history

Elizabeth mrs.liles class

Wonderopolis

Dec 10, 2013

Hi Elizabeth! Thanks for WONDERing with us! We're so glad that you liked the story! Dogs do dream often if they sleep! Sometimes you'll even see their legs moving while they sleep! Keep WONDERing with us! :)

Wonderopolis

jeremiahmrs.liles class

Dec 10, 2013

THOUGHT:I had no idea that dogs did that in their sleep. I thought they would just have a dream.
CONNECTION:I have seen one of these before but in this case he was running into things while he was sleeping (sleep walking).
WWOTD:I am very rapid.
PREDICTION:What would it be like if we could go back in time?

Wonderopolis

David

Dec 10, 2013

Both of my dogs jump in their dream. My oldest dog who is 13 acts like he is jumping in fear away from something when he isn't even awake. That's cool to WONDER how dogs dream just like humans do. I really like the WONDER of the day. Thanks WONDERoplis. :)

Kaiden

Danessa

Wonderopolis

Wonderopolis

Dec 10, 2013

Hi Rebecca! Thanks for WONDERing with us! That dog is super cute! Do you have a dog? We'd love to hear!Have you ever WONDERed why dogs have wet noses? Check out Wonder #969! https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-do-dogs-have-wet-noses/ Keep WONDERing! :)

lilly

Wonderopolis

Dec 10, 2013

Hi Lilly! Animals can definitely dream! It's actually funny to watch them dream! Sometimes even moving their legs while they're dreaming! Do you find yourself dreaming much too? Thanks for WONDERing with us! :)